Improvement in telegraph-keys



H. AMES. Telegraph-Key.

No. 213,312. Panfed Mar.1s, 1s79.

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UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFIGE.

HENRY AMES, OF 'WILTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

`IMPROVEMENT IN TELEGRAPH-KEYS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 213,312, dated March 18, 1879; application filed October 28, 1878.

To all lwhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY AMES, of Wilton, in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and useful Improvement in VJelegraph-Keys, of which the following is a specitication In the drawing, making apart of this specification, t-he knob and the key-lever of a telegraph-key are represented in perspective.

rlhe main features of my improvement in keys for sending messages by electric telegraph consist in the position and form of the knob ot' the key, whereby the tin gers of the operator are conveniently applied, and at the same time partially relieved from the fatigue that attends the use of the common circular knob having a ilat surface 5 also, in the combination of the improved knob with the screw-adjustment and lever to which the knob is attached.

It is very desirable that the fingers and 'thumb of the operator be in afree and natural position, and to effect this there are two depressions or open grooves, H and I, upon the sideI or the knob that is farthest from the operator, which form rests lor supports for the 1in gers, while they are at the same time slightly separated by the intervening prominent part P. These grooves are usually occupied by the first and second fingers, but the second and third lingers may also be conveniently used.

The part G, at the top of the knob,isnearly plane or level, and from it on the side opposite the two grooves a narrowlip, J projects downward, forming a slightly-curved rest to lit thc ball of the thumb. This lip is thin at its lower edge, thus allowing the soft part of the'thumb to have a rm hold upon the lower side of the knob and facilitate the upward movement of the key-lever. The n gers and thumb resting mainly upon the parts H I J are in a suitable position for the proper play of the muscles and for insuring a firm gripe of the knob and its prompt action downward or upward.

The shank L of the knob terminates in a screw, S, which enters the end B of the lever A B. The set-nut N is placed between the lever and the base of the knob, and when tight-- ened holds the knob at any required horizontal angle with thelever, thus allowing the operator to set the knob in the position that he prefers and which is most suit-able for his peculiar mode of touch or manipulation of the key. The height of the knob is also regulated by the screw S. Y

The short end A of the lever is provided on the lower side with a platinum point, D, which makes or breaks electric contact as the lever moves upon its fulcrum C C by the action of the fingers upon the knob.

A telegraph-key having a knob provided with grooves or indentations for the lingers and a curved recess and lip for'the thumb, to; gether with a shank and screw for attachment to the lever of the key, and for the adjustment of the knob in a horizontal direction at any required 'angle with the lever A B, substan tially as described.

HENRY AMES.

L. QUAID, LEM W. PERKINS. 

